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English

Year 9 students will continue to follow the key stage 3 Programme of Study, as set out in the National Curriculum, as well as start work on building the skills required for the beginning of their GCSE programme of study in Year 10. Students will study a range of fiction and non-fiction texts, as well as developing written skills in a range of styles for different purposes and audiences, and there will be a clear focus on developing the accuracy and sophistication of written skills throughout the year.

The autumn term focus will be developing reading analysis skills through a selection of non-fiction texts as well as excerpts from the horror genre, followed by writing to advise and review and then a response to a literary text. The spring term sees the study of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' as well as debating, poetry and parody. In the summer term students will study a further literary text as well as practising skills needed for 'the world of work' such as interviews and letters. The year will end an exciting creative writing unit. ​

Mathematics

All students follow the Secondary Strategy for Mathematics and the relevant key objectives. The Framework identifies yearly learning objectives that encourage ambition and provide challenge for all students, showing progression in the subject. The objectives ensure full coverage of the programme of study for the Key Stage 4 National Curriculum for Mathematics. All students have access to the 5 strands in the Framework for Mathematics within the Secondary Strategy:

Mathematical processes and applications

Number

Algebra

Geometry and Measures

Statistics

Students are set according to ability with differentiation occurring across the ability groups and within each set.

Christ the King College follows the Edexcel Examination Scheme at GCSE. Depending on ability, students follow either the Foundation or Higher course. All courses provide students with stimulating, demanding and enjoyable Mathematics appropriate to their ability. To help to ensure that students are meeting their expected targets, each students will sit an assessment at the end of each half term. Assessments will be used to determine both setting and to highlight areas where students require more focus and support.

Science

Autumn Term

Students commence GCSE units in Biology for Triple Science and Chemistry for Double Science, whilst BTEC students produce portfolio pieces on Chemistry, with a focus on atoms and bonding.

Spring Term

After carrying out internal tests on their Biology and Chemistry studies, students switch to undertake a module of Chemistry in Triple Science and Biology in Double Science. The BTEC students on completing their first Chemistry unit will undertake a unit on Biology which includes Genetics.

Summer Term

GCSE Double Science students on completion of their first Biology unit will face an internal test before commencing their first Physics unit. Those students taking Triple Science will undertake further Chemistry and Biology units. Also during this term, GCSE coursework will be undertaken which involves both the planning and carrying out of experiments followed by the analysis and evaluation of the data collected and further data provided. BTEC students will complete their first unit of Biology and commence their first unit of Physics.

Computing

All students should appreciate that computational ideas inform and illuminate other disciplines, this is reflected in the teaching of these disciplines in college. Like numeracy and literacy there is a strand of computing that offers valuable thinking skills to learners of all ages.

Computing at Christ the King College encompasses Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Information Technology, students will understand and explore the world around us in computational terms. They will deal with purposeful applications of computer systems to solve real-world problems.

In a world suffused by computation, every school-leaver should have an understanding of computing

Computing at School, 2012

Algorithms: sequence of precise steps to solve problems.

Programming: problem solving activity, and there are many different programs that can solve the same problem.

Data: looking at different way to represent data in a computer.

Computers and Social Informatics: understand the main components of a computer system.

Communication and the Internet: principles of how data is transported on the internet.

Internet and Information Technology: using applications on computer systems to solve real-world problems.

History

All Key Stage 3 students have the opportunity to explore a range of enquiries. These are in-line with new changes to the National Curriculum. In Year 9 the enquiries follow a range of modern world topics, exploring aspects of both World Wars as well as the inter-war period and the modern era.

Geography

We will be studying 2 units each term

Autumn Term

Natural hazards – Urban environments

Spring Term

Population – Weather and climate change

Summer Term

Asia; Case study of China

Asia; Case study of India

French

In Year 9 students take the one year Foundation Certificate of Secondary Education (FCSE). This nationally recognised qualification from AQA is awarded at three levels – Level 4 (Pass), Level 5 (Merit) and Level 6 (Distinction) and gives a good grounding for further study at GCSE. During Year 9 students are awarded levels using the FCSE criteria, based on their classwork and the assessments completed.

Students cover three units and are assessed on each:

• Holidays

• Region and Environment

• Healthy Living

Spanish

In Year 9 students take the one year Foundation Certificate of Secondary Education (FCSE). This nationally recognised qualification from AQA is awarded at three levels – Level 4 (Pass), Level 5 (Merit) and Level 6 (Distinction) and gives a good grounding for further study at GCSE. During Year 9 students are awarded levels using the FCSE criteria, based on their classwork and the examinations completed.

Students cover three units and are examined on each:

Holidays

Region and Environment

Healthy Living

Music

Each term will be focussed on studying the topics below, through Composing, Performing, Listening and Appraising activities. Each student will also complete a ‘Performing and Musicianship Skills Program’ during the first five lessons of Spring and Summer Terms, developing general musicianship skills as well as preparation and presentation of a chosen performance piece (solo, duet or as part of an ensemble).

Topics for study:

Polyrhythm into Minimalism

Studying a baroque concerto – Vivaldi’s ‘Lute Concerto’

IOW Festival – an introduction to the music industry

Loops and Samples – an introduction to music technology

Religious Education

This year students will be following a course in St. Mark’s Gospel. The sections studied are highlighted below.

Autumn Term

Discipleship - students will be studying who the disciples are and the problems they faced two thousand years ago.

Key texts will be studied from St. Mark’s Gospel in which students will reflect upon and evaluate how teaching of Jesus about discipleship may be applied today.

Conflict and Argument - students will be investigating how Jesus ran into conflict with the religious authorities as a result of his teaching and his actions. Students will explore the causes for argument and the conflict and problems that arose.

Spring Term

The identity of Jesus - in this section students will be answering the key question ‘Who is Jesus?’ Students will be investigating who Jesus was through reflecting upon Jesus’ actions, Jewish Holy Scriptures and the differences people expected and what Jesus wanted them to see in him.

Death and resurrection - students will be exploring and thinking about the events that led up to the death of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection. Students will be evaluating how these key parts of the Christian faith have set Christianity apart from other religions.

Summer Term

Students will be summarising and revising for a Christ the King College exam.

Physical Education

Autumn Term

Students are taught a selection of activities from the following: Performing at maximum levels, Outwitting opponents, Cycling, Dance, Trampolining and Volleyball.

Spring Term

Students are taught a selection of activities from the following: Performing at maximum levels, Outwitting opponents, Cycling, Dance, Trampolining and Volleyball.

Summer Term

Students are taught a selection of activities from the following: Athletics, Cricket, Softball, Tennis, Cycling and Rounders.

Assessment follows the National Curriculum and is an on-going process with regular assessment throughout each lesson.

Art

Art and Design in Year 9 provides a foundation for GCSE options.

Students are introduced to the specialist disciplines of Fine Art, Applied Art, Graphics and Photography.

They study and analyse the work of artists, crafts persons and designers and use their research to inspire and inform their own ideas and outcomes.

Design Technology

By the end of the year, students will have been taught safe practices and will have had the opportunity to engage in, improve skills and develop their knowledge and understanding of design and make tasks in Food Technology, Graphic products, Resistant Materials and Textile products.

All students will have employed the use of the design process which helps ensure that they will have gained experience of analysing problems, carried out research, completed annotated sketches showing a range of ideas, developed and improved ideas and evaluated completed work. Drawing and communications skills will be employed throughout the course.

Students will also have completed planning for manufacture and they will also have completed the making of a product in each of the specialist areas mentioned above.

Drama

Drama/Theatre is taught as a separate subject at Christ the King College. Fortnightly lessons provide the opportunity for students to develop many of the key skills including Drama techniques such as performing characters, group skills, responding to ideas and performances.

Creativity, team-work, problem-solving and time-management are also developed through the medium of Drama and Theatre skills. Year 9 are currently working on Improvisation and will later cover Voice, Street Theatre, Devising, Commedia and Theatre in Education

Latin

Students are given an introductory course in Year 9 based around that Cambridge Latin Course. Following the story of Caecilius, a real-life Roman from Pompeii, Year 9 students will learn about nouns, initially in the nominative and accusative cases, and verbs in the present tense, with the possibility of moving on to the imperfect and perfect tenses. Students will also learn about Roman civilisation, learning about daily life in Pompeii including topics such as Roman food, the forum and Roman theatre.

If you would like any further information about the curriculum we follow, please contact Mr Ryan Williams, Vice Principal, on the main College telephone number or email: admin@christ-the-king.iow.sch.uk